A 92-year-old pensioner who allegedly stabbed his wife 76 times while killing her is unfit to be admitted to an aged care facility, a court has heard.
Bedridden Francesco Dimasi, who suffers from dementia and is receiving palliative care, was excused from attending a hearing at the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Thursday as his physical and mental condition deteriorates.
Dimasi is charged with one count of murder in the stabbing death of his wife Maria ‘Nonna’ Dimasi on December 2, 2023.
Prosecutors opposed Dimasi’s request to release him on bail to an elderly care facility, Advertiser reported.
The court heard that before allegedly killing his wife, Dimasi had been diagnosed with vascular dementia and was experiencing increased paranoia and verbal aggression.
The court also heard he had some physical difficulties at the time of the alleged murder, including that he was using a walker and needed some form of assistance.
“The accused, in my opinion, committed an extremely violent crime. According to the autopsy received in the case, the deceased had 76 cut wounds on her body,” the prosecutor told Chief Judge Mary-Luisa Hribral.
Francesco Dimasi (right) is charged with one count of murder for the stabbing death of his wife Maria Dimasi (left) on December 2, 2023.
Ms Dimasi (pictured) allegedly suffered 76 ‘sharps injuries’, court hears
Dimasi’s lawyer, Trish Johnson, told the court that her client was unable to obtain the age pension while in custody, which meant he could not apply for a place in a suitable nursing home, ABC reported.
Medical experts and the Department of Corrections provided reports saying Dimasi would be better served in a “high-needs senior care facility” due to his deteriorating health, the court heard.
Judge Hribal said she would be willing to grant bail to a suitable aged care facility, but needed more information and ordered a bail report to determine whether he could obtain a pension and whether a place in a nursing home was available for him. care center for elderly people with great needs.
The court had previously heard that Dimasi called triple-0, saying he had allegedly killed his wife.
Police reportedly found a kitchen knife and a “significant” amount of blood at the scene.
Dimasi had a blood alcohol level four times the legal limit and allegedly told police his wife “deserved it”, the court heard.
The prosecutor said Dimasi was “under surveillance” at the hospital, requiring interventions once or twice a week because he sometimes “attacked” with “some force” nursing staff performing personal care tasks.
But Mrs Johnson argued her client was “not a danger to anyone”.
“He will attack, but he is not strong enough to hurt anyone,” he told the court.
Maria ‘Nonna’ Dimasi (left) is pictured with chef Maggie Beer and her grandson Stefan Dimasi
The judge ordered that Dimasi not be released, not even on bail, until a place was made for him in a suitable facility.
In early June, Ms. Dimasi’s children issued a statement thanking the community for its support.
“As you can see, our family is still devastated by the way our mother lost her life, we are still grieving and we miss her immensely,” they said.
Dimasi’s case will return to court next month.